Friday, May 1, 2009

THE ESSENCE OF GOOD URBAN SPACES

There are 15 qualitites that define a good urban space - these are:

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Variety
Variety is an essential ingredient of good places. We prefer a variety of experiences. Variety of experience implies places with varied forms, uses and meanings. Variety of use unlocks all other levels of variety.

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Public and private sides
It is important that private spaces and utility areas are not immediately adjacent to public spaces. They have incompatibilities that are difficult to resolve. It is best that private spaces are adjacent and only public fronts or edges address public spaces.

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Adaptability and versatility
A good place will be able to accommodate a large range of uses, activities and purposes over the daily and weekly cycle, seasonal patterns as well as other changes with which the city has to cope.

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Human scale and richness
A good urban place affirms the centrality of human beings – the highly complex system of intellect, emotion, senses and spirit that we are. The evidence and use of the human dimensions (physical as well as non-physical) helps us to relate to, interpret and appreciate the built environment.

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Qualities of edges
How well a public space works will be largely determined by the arrangement of, and around, its edges. A dynamic vibrant and interesting space is likely to have active edges. Passive edges are likely to produce a space which is lacking in life as well as a sense of safety.

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Connectivity
Greater connectivity makes places more accessible. Connectivity means a high number of movement and access connections between places. Only places which are highly accessible to people can offer them maximum choices.

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Sustainability
Very often sustainability is thought of largely only in terms of energy and greenhouse gasses. Urban sustainability encompasses not only energy use but also economic, social, cultural and ecological concerns.

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Urban greenscape
The greenscape of the city is an integral part of the urban fabric and a continuous medium rather than local or site related plantscape enhancement.

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Safety
A good place will be perceived as safe as well as be safe. The physical arrangement of a place can greatly contribute to personal safety.

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Space and space making
People respond to defined spaces. A good place will have well contained and interesting spaces in which people feel comfortable.

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Access
Good places will be accessible to all members of the community.

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Community enhancement
A good urban place is one which enhances the sense of the community, social interaction and strengthens the self-image and identity of the people who use it. While acknowledging differences, it will focus on the shared and the common.

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Comprehendibility
We can take full advantage of a place only if we understand it, interpret it and it has meaning for use. Its layout must be such that we can construct clear mental maps of it. For this, there needs to be some clear points of reference.

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Environmental sensitivity
A good urban place will be sensitive to the environment and the setting, be it natural or made by humans. This sensitivity will be at the local as well as global scale.

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Human needs
A good place will consider and provide for all human needs.